Tag Archives: Haiti

Despite an unrelenting rain that lasted pretty much all day, we had a nice turnout at the American Museum of Natural History, which hosted our reception and presentation on CERT’s role in the Haiti relief effort.

Perhaps two weeks following the January 12 earthquake that leveled much of Haiti, a 21-year-old Haitian-American woman came into the HERC center holding the hand of her 24-year-old sister. The older sister appeared dazed and not fully cognizant of what was happening around her. From time to time, she would ask for her mother.

We’re told that food, water, and medical supplies are starting to get through, and that things are becoming, not normal, but what they’re going to be for a long time to come: a massive, long-term operation to rebuild and recover.

Upper West Side CERT’s own George Contreras is in Haiti providing emergency medical care to survivors of the 7.0 earthquake that devastated the island on January 12. Contreras deployed with New York City Medics http://www.nycmedics.org and is leading an eleven-person team that includes physicians, nurses, physician’s assistants, and paramedics.

About Us

Upper West Side Community Emergency Response Team (UWS CERT) are trained and certified citizen volunteers organized to provide auxiliary support to the emergency response efforts of the New York Police and Fire Departments of Manhattan's Upper West Side